Eastern Conference | Round 1 | (2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Brooklyn Nets (BOSTON WINS 4-0)

[Swag]

I get the feeling we are going to see a special performance from KD tonight.

[Yinwest]

I’m tired of hearing about KD this, Kyrie that…..
The Jay’s can fully capable to go for 60 combine or even out duel KD and Kyrie.

[PierceFan4ever]

Anyone getting a little annoyed with the Kyrie vs Celtics fans being the main headline so far in the series? I mean I get it, it’s a entertaining topic to discuss but I wish it was more of a side piece when it comes to discussion. Tatum’s game winner, Kyrie’s performance, durant struggles/Celtics defense on him, Ime vs Nash should be bigger topics of discussion. Focus more on the game smh.

[The High Cyde]

Incredible breakdown of game 1 and the series from Zach Lowe:

https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/insider/story/_/id/33761357/lowe-watch-enormous-game-2-brooklyn-nets-boston-celtics

Boston smoked the Nets on the glass in game 1. That was baked into the series.

*checks date*

And that’s why Zach Lowe is the GOAT

[SilverQuick]

I am ready to witness a masterpiece from Kevin Durant. But somehow the celtics manage to win game 2, then it will be verry hard for the Nets to overcome 2-0 deficit. Winning 4 out of 5 games aganist the Celtics wont be an easy task , so Nets have to win tonight

we did it last year

I did not say it is impossible, but it is low percentage for sure and not an easy task to accomplish
at the end you were champs and only good teams actually very good teams can do that.
For the nets, i am not sure about that . With 2 superstars they have a chance ofcourse but not like % 40-50 if they drop to 0-2

[Slax]

Anyone getting a little annoyed with the Kyrie vs Celtics fans being the main headline so far in the series? I mean I get it, it’s a entertaining topic to discuss but I wish it was more of a side piece when it comes to discussion. Tatum’s game winner, Kyrie’s performance, durant struggles/Celtics defense on him, Ime vs Nash should be bigger topics of discussion. Focus more on the game smh.

I have consumed a fair amount of media over the last few days and almost all the discussion I've personally heard has been about Tatum's game winner, Kyrie's incredible performance, and Celtics D locking down Durant.

[celtxman]

Yeah, I agree with all of this. Yes, I believe he wanted to stay with Boston but then the young prospects developed rather quickly to the point that the coaching staff have to implement them to the system a lot more. That's really where the issue is. Kyrie just want to prove he can carry team. He felt at one point that Boston is a great place for him accomplished that goal (which is justifiable from the time he made the decision).

For me these reasoning doesn't equivalate the overwhelming amount of hate that he got from Boston. I mean it's to the point that Boston media created so many negative press against him to the point that they painted him as this insane person to general NBA fans. To me the worst thing you can really say against Kyrie is he is an immature, petty, shortsighted person. That's really about it. However, you guys should've been ready for this for a player that lives by the mamba mentality. I mean if you compare him to MJ, Kobe, Westbrook, he is actually a lot more down to earth to them. The difference is they were internationally loved cause a lot of the press coddled them (yes that includes Westbrook at one point but then analytics streamlined and people realized he is trash).

Then again, maybe i'm just a very lenient person since A lot of Nets fans hated Harden for what he did and I think his decision to leave was justified (i sided with him).

I feel like you're being naive if you felt like there was any chance any fan base would have a mutually amicable split after all the stuff he did while he was with the Celtics, how he left, and then the way he has repeatedly taken jabs at the Celtics organization and fans since he left. bisme summarized some of it here, but I think it actually undersells what a weird whirlwind of negativity the whole Kyrie experience was for Boston: viewtopic.php?p=98271162#p98271162. I doubt Kyrie intended to piss off Boston fans while he was here and the way he left, rather I think he's just a self absorbed dude with very little self awareness and maturity and so he acted in ways that caused animosity toward him both by teammates and fans to spiral without thinking about it. The intensity with which a lot of fans reacted was over the top, but at the same time it was inevitable and justified that there are lingering negative feelings towards him.

Anyway, I don't hold any personal resentment toward him, but Kyrie makes a fun villain for the Celtics, and I enjoy rooting against him because of that. He fills a gap after LeBron moved west. And unless he's dumb as rocks or completely unable to control his actions, to some extent he must enjoy the negative attention, because he acts the heel when he plays in Boston.

I don't expect you guys not to hate the guy. Obviously, any normal person would feel some sort of discontent towards him. What I'm pointing out is the OVERWHELMING amount of hate. Celtics are hating him like he is free agent Lebron made a show about announcing his decision just to say he is leaving. He also didn't fake an injury for half a season to lower his value so he can play with other superstar like what Vince Carter did to Toronto(Reminder we are talking about King James and Air Canada in comparison to Kyrie). Kyrie was just an unproven superstar, that just wants to be in top 10 player conversation, signed with the Celtics in the middle of his career, had a bunch of disagreements with his colleagues and left a couple years after. Yet, it's been 3 years and the general fans are still showing the same type of energy. Boston fans and the media are also the ones instigating at him but when he retaliate Boston fans are acting so hurt. Which is basically narcissism in itself. Maybe it's the Boston Media and how it influences the mentality to think this way. Then again your influencers are really loyal towards the Celtics and maybe it's due to the historical success Boston have. I don't see this as a Nets fan and I'm sure majority of the NBA teams also don't see this. Funny part is, you also didn't see this with Cleveland since IMO he did Cleveland way worse than what he did to Boston.

*I wanna make sure to say i'm not pointing at you since i think you have a good attitude about the whole thing I'm talking about majority of the fans*.

It's not that he left its the hateful way that he left, saying to the fans he would stay - THE WHOLE SEASON TICKET HOLDER GROUP - then less than two months later on the phone plotting to leave while under contract and hopefully trying to win a Championship. The total disregard came when he said "I don't owe anyone S$#*." He then proceeded to quit in the playoffs. There is SO much more but you get to a point where people ask and answer their own question. I would challenge anyone on this board, in any sport to come up with an example of a player who handled himself worse in leaving a team than Irving did. Yet you try to explain why this is different and you hear things like you're "butthurt" and "sour grapes."
When Irving was on the Celtics I never posted to Cavs fans "gee I don't understand what you're talking about with Kyrie - you just have sour grapes." It was easy enough to see how he could rub fans the wrong way and it is easy to check that I never defended that. But now his bad behavior has gone on steroids and he feels comfortable dragging in race as an issue . There is enough problems with genuine racism in this country to try to use it for your own agenda.

[chrisab123]

Simmons coming back in game 4 is great for Boston. This dude folds like origami under pressure. Force him to take shots.

[AussieCeltic]

I think KD goes for 30 this game but I think Kyrie struggled. Celtics by 8

[GSP]

Cant wait for the Nets tears after today. Reality is gonna set in for em after we blow their asses out

I'm not seeing the reality behind his bravado. Game 1 was a seesaw and required a Tatum buzzer beater. Durant was very subpar, don't expect this to continue. If anything, this is showing to be a tight series.

Youd be assuming every game in a playoff series would go similarly. It wont.

[Feed Your Head]

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[Castle Black]

Think BKN takes this one tonight. KD has a bounce-back game, Kyrie gets his, and Patty Mills & Seth Curry hit big shots. We’ll see how Boston responds after an emotional Game 1.

[celtxman]

Think BKN takes this one tonight. KD has a bounce-back game, Kyrie gets his, and Patty Mills & Seth Curry hit big shots. We’ll see how Boston responds after an emotional Game 1.

This series isn't ending in 4 or 5 games and either team can win on the other's court. Flip a coin on tonight

[Triple M]

I love that every series, people say Marcus Smart can't play like that despite him doing it year in and year out and multiple games in many playoff years.

[azcatz11]

I'm going for the Celtics because of that crap that came out about Tsai (even though I'm a Kyrie fan)

Go C's!

[The High Cyde]

LFG Boston, my body is ready

[QUIZ]

All Bruce Brown to start, crazy. KD still struggling to control the ball

[Bruin]

Bruce Brown scoring the first 9 points is the last thing I expected

[SFour]

Brown really that guy

[Madhouse]

Nash clearly told Bruce Brown to be aggressive and not hesitate